Jezebels

This artwork depicts the party that occurs in Chapter 38 of The Handmaid’s Tale. When Offred and the Commander first walk into the party scene, Offred says, “At first glance there’s cheerfulness to this scene. It’s like a masquerade party; they are like oversized children, dressed up in togs they’ve rummaged from trunks.” (Atwood, 235). In contrast, the scene in the bathroom is more somber and business-like. “The women don’t smile. They return to their smoking as if it’s serious business.” (Atwood, 242). The artwork depicts the scene in the bathroom. This scene is more intriguing because people look more out of place without the backdrop of the rest of the party. They are left wearing costumes. Moiras outfit is the most shocking. “There’s a wad of cotton attached to the back, I can see it as she half turns; it looks like a sanitary pad that’s been popped like a piece of popcorn. I realize it’s supposed to be a tail. Attached to her head are two ears, of a rabbit or deer, it’s not easy to tell; one of the ears has lost its starch or wiring and is flopping halfway down. She has a black bowtie around her neck and is wearing black net stockings and black high heels.” (Atwood, 239). The artwork depicts these details. She is dressed in attire so different from anything she has ever worn. They are all wearing costumes, even the ones who have done this before. They are playing for their lives wearing the armor of bunny ears. In this artwork, all of the outfits are drawn in bright colors. The colors are quite shocking, especially the makeup. “All wear make-up, and I realize how unaccustomed I’ve become to seeing it, on women, because their eyes look too big to me, too dark and shimmering, their mouths too read, too wet, blood-dipped and glistening; or, on the other hand, too clown-ish.” (Atwood, 235) I tried to make all the colors bright, especially the makeup, to show the contrast of this scene. But, these are the only colors in this artwork. This shows the way that the people in power like the commanders are trying to dress up a bleak reality. They are playing pretend and living in a matrix of their own making. The illusion still fades however. The artwork portrays threads of clothing loose, stains on the clothes, and cracks to the mirrors to show the brokenness of this party. “A movie about the past is not the same as the past” (Atwood, 235). Everything is different now, but people are still busy playing pretend. They are still trying to make a black and white world colorful, when there is still no freedom and still nothing to celebrate. Throughout this, the handmaids and the women are always the pieces being played around, like actors in a play. The bathroom is the backstage, showing all the women waiting for their cue. The last thing of importance is this mirror, which is cracked and broken yet they are all drawn to it, fixing their makeup, checking their reflection. It is all they have left of themselves. Something still artificial, reflecting a reality of their own making.